Bengaluru: The Karnataka App-based Workers Union (KAWU) has called on Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy to promptly issue notifications establishing minimum base fares for app-based transport services. The union is also seeking a strict ban on the use of non-commercial vehicles for commercial passenger and goods transport.
In letters addressed to the ministers, KAWA highlighted the urgent need to safeguard the livelihoods of drivers and ensure fare transparency for riders. The demands align with provisions in the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which require minimum base fares to be set in consultation with recognised worker unions for services including autos, cabs, bike taxis, and other aggregator platforms.
Without government-mandated base fares, aggregator companies—such as Ola, Uber, Porter, and Rapido—can arbitrarily determine pricing, leaving drivers and riders vulnerable to unstable and exploitative conditions, the union stated. This lack of regulation has contributed to precarious working environments, unpredictable earnings, and ongoing challenges for platform workers.
KAWU further emphasised that private non-commercial vehicles should not be permitted for commercial use and must be converted to the appropriate commercial category as required under the Motor Vehicles Act and the 2025 Aggregator Guidelines.
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To underscore the seriousness of these long-standing issues, the union announced its participation in an All-India Breakdown scheduled for Saturday, February 7. “Due to the long-standing nature of these concerns, and to assert our legitimate demands, app-based workers across platforms and across India will observe an All-India Breakdown on February 7,” said Mohammad Inayath Ali, founding president of KAWA, in a statement.
The union urged authorities to engage in immediate dialogue with worker representatives to formulate regulations that promote a fair and lawful digital transport sector. The protest reflects broader frustrations among app-based transport workers nationwide over unregulated fares and inadequate protections.
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